The Press., 1887-05-05
A BIT OF RIBBON.

DTlgnI rays lOI me sun, WnlCn pOsSSSSSdl no power to melt them. Inside, in the light, clean ward of the H-hospital, warmth and brightness and comfort rows of neat white cots on either side, and nurses in white caps and aprons fitting to and fro, in constant attendance upon the sufferers lying there, .s sa
 At the farther extremity of the long ward, where the sunshine fell softly over the white-draped cot, lay a little girl of eight years, but so small, so frail and del | icate, she seemed scarcely more than half that age: An accident on the street several weeks before, ,hadse riously injured her, and as nc, one seemed to claim or care for her, she had been brought to the hospital.
 The skill of the ablest physicians and the constant care of skilled nurses had, however, been able to do little more than to give temporary relief from the severe pain she constantly suffered, but her gen. tieness and patience had won the hearts of all about her, =. | To-day she lay quietly upon her cot, twisting in and out over her slender fn- lgers stri rip of bright tinsel paper, which she now and then held in the sunlight, I turning 1t to and fro to, catch the lustre upon its shining surface. Then folding 1t softly, she tried to fashion a tiny bow, but the stiff. brittle paper parted in her hands, and fell in shining bits over the white coverlid. With patient sigh, she dropped her hands and turned wearily upon her pillow .-.
 Dr. Jay, one of the visiting physicians was making his morning tour of the hos pitaL and had stopped for moment 10 watch the child's patient endeavors to amuse herself The case had been one which had interested him deeply. Poor little Maggie! Her patience and gen tleness had won his sympathies. She seems to have a peculiar love for every thing bright and pretty" the nurse said, Tn answer to a low-toned remark from Dr. j Jay. "She will amuse herself for hours Slwith some bit of paper and string"
 ".You should petition for a supply ol dolls," was the doctors humorous re, joinder e'I think in this case they would be more beneficial than medicine" and with smile and pleasant word to the child, and few directions to the nurse
 he passed on .... =.
 The next day, in making his morning round of calls, he was delayed a few moments by passing procession. Hi: carriage had stopped just in front of the
 windows of a millinery store. and piece
 of bright brocaded ribbon caught hi:
 eye. ..-, ....,..,.. .... ..... 5. -......
 In an instant there rose before nh
 the pale face of his little hospital patient
 and her piece of tinsel paper, and tht
 next moment he had put a f1ve-dollar bil
 in the hand of his colored coachman, a!
 he took the reins from him.
 Run in there, Jim, and buy me two yards of that lowered ribbon,'' he said
 and five minutes later the procession haC
 passed, and he wsa driving down thu
 street, with the package of ribbon stowec Eaway in his capacious pockets. H,
 seemed perfectly indifferent to the fac
 that Jim had returned but two dollars o
 the five, and to the apparent absurdit,
 of paying three dollars for a gift to chil'
 who, doubtless, could not have told tn difference between this elegant fabri
 and a piece of ten-cent ribbon.
 But if any one had dared to hint tha
 he had committed piece of folly, h
 would simply have shrugged his shoul
 ders indiferently. Dr. Jays kindnesse were never done by halves. . .s.s "There, Maggie, you can make a bo, out of that to suit you," he said pleas antly, as, an hour later, he stood b the little ones cot, and unrolling tn : ribbon, let 1t fall in lovely shimmerinI waves over the white .coverlid. ...(. l The. child's large dark eyes opene
 wide in surprise and: delight; there wa
 a quick indrawing of the breath, claspinI of the thin white hands in an ecstacy c rapture too deep for words.
 s. At last she stretched outs,her hands touched lightly the shining folds, d .ev
 them softly through her fingers, and lai' them against her cheek with loYins tender ness, as if the ribbon had been some ani It wasihassd a1loossely piece of goods a soft, lustrous background of bright deli cate blues oEerWhich was carelessly strewl
 half-opened moss-roses and buds, the deel F pink of the flowers and soft shaded greel Iof the leaves formingsa lovely contrast t. the lustr nous Fbluegof tfe groundWork. /. Older eyes than Maggie,s, and thos more accustomed to luxuries, might hav
 dilated in delight at sight of so beautiful gift. 4.- .'And is it mine-for true?" she said, a
 last, as if such good fortune could not pos sibly be hers.et,.,,t ,.--.-.j-......., "Yes. ali your own, to do just as yor i! choose with" sEjs "Ohl Oh l""4 was all the delighted chilt could say, but there was such world ot love and gratitude in the depth of the soft
 dark eyes, that Dr. Jay turned away witl
 suspiciously wet eyelashess a4s ,s.sges<s- ':You have made heaven for little Mag s gie, the head nurse said, upon his nex call. II never saw such pleasure as th' child takes with that, bit of ribbon. Sh, : has certainly made hundred different com
 binations of lbows and dolls and all sort
 of fancy ifxings out of it. She is 2 queen,
 fairy, princess, and everything else bJ
 turns. Once offered to cut it for her
 that she might make bows more conven tiently. You should have seen her. Sht | fhugged itIaplto her, and looked fat ma with such frightened, pleading eyes, ont ] would certainly have thought it some liv, ing creature T was going to harm. < There
 just look at her Isn't she pict ure? ss., q She CorfainIv vaa a u1Oak lovely niGfure